Cigarette container and ash receptacle



March 19, 1946. F, g, cm, 2,396,812?

CIGARETTE CONTAINER AND ASH. RECEPTACLE Filed Oct. 11; 1944 v Inve ntor Ea/201,3 C are Attorneys Patented Mar. 19, 1946 am sta e cioann'rrn CONTAINER AND ASH ancnrraoan tion of its length, todefine ashallow recess l9,

l Claims.

The present invention relates generally to containers and more particularly to an improved combined cigarette container and ash receptacle.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide pivoted means whereby the ash receptacle, when opened, will maintain a position horizontal to that of the container.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means for maintaining. a spaced relationship between the bottom wall of the ash receptacle and the coacting Wall of the container when said receptacle is in a closed position, with the result that sticking of said receptacle wall to the container will be prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ash receptacle having novel and adaptable closure means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for retaining the ash receptacle against accidental displacement relative to the container.

These andother objects will become more apparent in the detailed description which follows.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention showing the ash receptacle in a closed position;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 3, and showing, in full lines, the ash receptacle in open position;

Figure 3 is a front elevation, observing Figure Zfrom right to left, the ash receptacle appearing extended;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail side elevation of one of the detents, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View of the receptacle detent means.

The invention to be described herein is primarily for the purpose of carrying cigarettes and ashes received therefrom, but it is to be understood that it can be used for other items such as matches, as an incense burner or the like.

Throughout the various views of the drawing, like numerals designate identical parts.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral l6 designates generally a container preferably of light metal or plastic, the shape and size of which corresponds generally to that of an average size cigarette package. The container l0 may be formed from a blank of metal, the rear wall ll thereof having a right angle bend at I2 forming a bottom wall 13, and terminating at M where it forms part of a hinge l5. Side walls l6 and I! of the container l0 merge at their respective front edges with the bottom wall I3. The front wall I8 is depressed, throughout the greater porwalls and 26. The terminal ends of the-wall 24, as at 2! and 28, form mating halves of the hinges l5 and 29, respectively. A hinged wall completes the receptacle, a spring 3|, wound about the hinge pin normally holding the aforesaid wall 30 in a position closing the outer end of the receptacle.

A spring 32 (see Figure 1) surrounding the hinge l5 aids in the closing of the receptacle.

Detents 33 and 34 cooperating with mating detents 35 and 36 are adapted to normally maintain the receptacle in either the open or closed position. More particularly, the detents comprise indented projections-in the side walls 25 and 26 which move in arcuate tracks in the side walls of the container and engage in sockets at the ends of said tracks for retaining the receptacle in full open or full closed positions.

When in the open position, it will be observed that the wall 24 of the receptacle falls in the same plane as the bottom wall l3 of the container, permitting the .unit to be placed on any level object without danger of overturning.

When the receptacle is closed, the walls 25 and 26 straddle the side walls of the container, and the hinged wall 30 engages the wall l8 and slides therealong, when saidwall 30 will swing about the hinge 29 until it assumes the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. In said dotted line position the portion 31 of the receptacle overlies the recessed area l9. Also, in this position the hinge 29 contacts the wall l8 of the container l0, providing a stop for limiting further inward movement of the receptacle.

The recess 38 provides means for the sifting of any ashes remaining on the inner surface of the wall 24 of the receptacle into a well 39 formed between the walls l3 and 2| when the receptacle is in closed position.

It is to be understood that the invention as here disclosed is not limited to the details here described and shown but that the same may be varied widely without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

gaging the front wall of the container to an open position extending at an angle to the container, an end wall for the receptacle, and means pivotally connecting said end wall with the bottom wall of the receptacle, whereby said end wall may be swung from a position closing the end of the receptacle in extended position to a position overlying the front wall of the container when said receptacle is in closed position.

2. In a device of the class described as recited in claim 1 wherein said bottom walls cooperate with the rear wall of the container and the bottom wall of the receptacle in closed position to define a well, and said depressed portion of the front wall communicates with the well, and said end wall closes the upper end of said depressed portion for preventing escape of the contents of the well.

3. As a new article of manufacture and as a component part of a combination container and ash receptacle of the class described, an ash tray .for use in connection with a container, said tray being in the form of a trough, said trough including a bottom and longitudinal parallel side walls, said bottom being provided at its inner end with means for hingedly connecting same with the companion container, and a transverse outer end wall hingedly mounted on the outer end of said bottom and arranged between the outer end portions of said side walls and provided with spring means for maintaining it in a closing position at right angles to the bottom and in a position between the adjacent portions of said sidewalls.

4. A combination container and ash receptacle of the class described comprising a container in the form of a substantially rectangular box open at its upper'end and provided on its lower portion with a well, said well opening through the front lower portion of said container, said container including a front wall and said front wall being depressed for the greater part of its length and said depression providing a refuse clearance space and having communication with the open end of said well, and an ash tray comprising a bottom and upstanding parallel side walls connected with the longitudinal edges of the bottom, and a spring-returned hingedly mounted outer end wall, said bottom being hingedly attached at its inner end to the bottom of said container.

FRANCIS C. CARD. 

